Sex, Power Scandals to Loom over Vatican Pre-vote Talks

A general view of Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican

REUTERS

The sex and power scandals haunting the Catholic Church look set to play a big role in meetings before next month's papal election after two senior cardinals called on Tuesday for more internal debate about them.

A leading support group for victims of clerical sexual abuse also made what it called a "last-ditch plea" to Pope Benedict to use his authority before resigning on Thursday to discipline bishops who have protected predatory priests in their dioceses.

The abuse issue took on new urgency after Scotland's Cardinal Keith O'Brien, accused of improper behavior with young priests, quit as Edinburgh archbishop on Monday and pulled out of the Sistine Chapel conclave to elect a new pope, reports Reuters.

A Scottish Catholic Media Office spokesman has said O'Brien was taking legal advice and contested the "anonymous and non specific" allegations against him.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, now the only British prelate due to attend pre-conclave talks among cardinals at the Vatican next week, said in London the sexual abuse of children was the most serious scandal in the Church.

"That will be one of the main things the cardinals will be discussing," said Murphy-O'Connor, who cannot vote because he is over 80 years old but can join the cardinal electors in their closed-door discussions about the challenges for the next pope.

French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran said in a newspaper interview that the cardinal electors, who number 115 after O'Brien stepped down, should also be informed about a secret report on Vatican corruption prepared for Pope Benedict.

The retiring pontiff has decided to reserve the report for his successor, but the three cardinals over 80 years old who drew it up will be allowed to inform the cardinal electors about some of its findings during next week's consultations.

"The cardinal electors cannot decide to choose this or that name to vote for if they don't know the contents of this dossier," Tauran told La Repubblica newspaper.

"If it's necessary, I don't see why they should not ask for names," said Tauran, a former Vatican foreign minister who now heads its department for interreligious dialogue.

Italian newspapers have been speculating for days about conspiracies and alleged sexual scandals inside the Vatican that may have influenced Benedict to become the first pope in some six centuries to step down rather than die in office.

The Vatican has accused these newspapers of spreading "false and damaging" rumours in an attempt to influence the cardinals who are starting to arrive in Rome for the pope's farewell meeting with them on Thursday.

Two directors of the United States-based abuse victims' network SNAP arrived in Rome on Tuesday to draw attention to their demands for tougher Church policies.

"We're here to make a last ditch plea to Pope Benedict to use the remaining hours of his papacy to take decisive action to protect kids," said David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

He acknowledged that Benedict had met some abuse victims and made some strong statements condemning the molestation of minors by priests, but said he only acted under public pressure.

1,200 Girls Raped in Rivers State

Police Headquarters

No fewer than 1,200 girls were allegedly raped in 2012 in Rivers State, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development, said Wednesday.

Mr. Michael Gbarale, the state Project Officer of the organisation, announced this in Port Harcourt in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

“Over 1,200 girls were raped in Rivers State; of this figure, gang rapes were more frequent,” Gbarale said.

Gbarale, who is also the Chairman of Child Protection Network, said 49 cases were reported to the network, while 800 others were treated by ‘’doctors without borders.”

According to him, the remaining figure was reported to other civil society organisations that made up the centre.
The chairman said that out of the 49 cases, 11 were gang rapes, while others were ordinary rape cases.

He said 44 cases were resolved at different police divisions and communities while two were not reported to the police.
He said three persons were convicted in three cases.

He urged the police to support the activities of the NGO and also ensure diligent prosecution of such cases to curb the menace.

He enjoined parents of rape victims to stop collecting money from suspects to avoid protracted litigations and save the victims’ image.
Gbarale advised parents against leaving their daughters in the care of some relatives, noting that most of the suspects were relatives of the victims.
He urged the government and police to establish Child Rights Implementation Committee and Child Rights units.
Gbarale explained that the network was a coalition of NGOs created by UNICEF for children’s interest.

The chairman, however, solicited for adequate logistics to enable it to sustain the campaign against rape and other violent acts against women.

Pope Benedict XVI Leaves The Vatican

Pope Benedict (L) in the helicopter taking him from the Vatican

SKY NEWS

Pope Benedict XVI has left the Vatican for the final time as leader of the Catholic Church.

He gave thanks to senior staff who have been by his side during his papacy before stepping out from his apartments for the last time, reports Sky News.

As he bid the Vatican farewell, he tweeted: "Thank you for your love and support. May you always experience the joy that comes from putting Christ at the centre of your lives."

The 85-year-old was then driven to the Vatican helipad, where he boarded a helicopter and flew off into history to Castel Gandolfo in Lazio - the Pope's summer residence on the outskirts of Rome.

US First Lady Announces Effort to Help Kids Exercise

First lady Michelle Obama greets educators and state and community officials at a "Let's Move!" programme

AP

Imagine students learning their ABCs while dancing, or memorizing multiplication tables while doing jumping jacks.

Some schools are using both methods of instruction, and Michelle Obama would like to see more of them use other creative ways to help students get the recommended hour of daily exercise.

In Chicago Thursday, the first lady announced a new public-private partnership to help schools do just that. "Let's Move Active Schools" starts with a website, www.letsmoveschools.org , where school officials and others can sign up to get started, reports The Associated Press.

Mrs. Obama said too many penny-pinched schools have either cut spending on physical education or eliminated it outright to put the money toward classroom instruction. But the first lady who starts most days with a workout — and other advocates of helping today's largely sedentary kids move their bodies — say that's a false choice, since studies that show exercise helps youngsters focus and do well in school.

The effort is one of the newest parts of Mrs. Obama's 3-year-old campaign against childhood obesity, known as "Let's Move," which she has spent the week promoting.

"With each passing year, schools feel like it's just getting harder to find the time, the money and the will to help our kids be active. But just because it's hard doesn't mean we should stop trying," the first lady said. "It means we should try harder. It means that all of us — not just educators, but businesses and nonprofits and ordinary citizens — we all need to dig a little deeper, start getting more creative."

She was joined at McCormick Place in her hometown by several Olympians, including gymnasts Dominique Dawes and Gabby Douglas, sprinter Allyson Felix, tennis player Serena Williams and decathlete Ashton Eaton, along with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and triathlete Sarah Reinertsen, whose left leg was amputated above the knee when she was a child, and other athletes. Thousands of students from city middle schools also were being brought in for the event.

Research shows that daily exercise has a positive influence on academic performance, but kids today spend too much time sitting, mostly in school but also outside the classroom while watching TV, playing video games or surfing the Internet. Federal guidelines recommend that children ages 6-17 get at least 60 minutes of exercise daily, which can be racked up through multiple spurts of activity throughout the day.

The White House says the most current data, from 2007, shows that just 4 percent of elementary schools, 8 percent of middle schools and 2 percent of high schools provided daily physical education.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan said he's proof of the link between exercise and academic performance. As a boy, he said, he had a hard time sitting still in class but that exercise helped him focus.

"What's true for me is true for many of our nation's children," he said in an interview.

Duncan, who played basketball professionally in Australia, said the choice is not between physical activity or academics, especially with about one-third of U.S. kids either overweight or obese and at higher risk for life-threatening illnesses like heart disease or diabetes.

"It's got to be both," he said. Duncan cited the examples of students learning the alphabet while dancing or memorizing multiplication tables while doing jumping jacks.

Mrs. Obama called on school staff, families and communities to help get 50,000 schools, about half the number of public schools in the U.S., involved in the program over the next five years.

The President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition, the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation will oversee the program. Funding and other resources will come from Nike Inc., the GENYOUth Foundation, ChildObesity180, Kaiser Permanente and the General Mills Foundation.

Under the new initiative, modest grants will be available from the Education Department to help some programs get started. The GENYOUth Foundation and ChildObesity180 also will be awarding grants.

Nike has committed $50 million to the effort over the next five years; the remaining groups together have pledged more than $20 million.

Experts Brainstorm on Mobile Tech for Global Sustainability

GSM phones

Abimbola Akosile

The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has convened an expert roundtable on expanding the use of mobile technologies to promote sustainable human development, including policymakers, social innovators, civil society, and the private sector.

With some 6 billion subscriptions worldwide, mostly in developing countries, mobile phones have opened new opportunities for innovation to address longstanding gaps and challenges in development. Social innovators have adapted and developed mobile applications that respond to local needs and demands.

The roundtable at the World Summit for the Information Society (WSIS)+10 Review, Paris, France, is expected to facilitate sharing of experiences and exchange of knowledge about efforts in this arena on a global scale. Panellists include experts from UNDP and Motorola Solutions.
The dialogue, according to UNDP, is the first in a series planned by the UN agency with Motorola Solutions focused on deepening understanding of the current state of mobile technology for development. It will inform other upcoming activities such as a workshop planned in Kenya this May.

These consultations aim to identify and support flagship initiatives in the area of mobile technologies as well as cutting-edge innovations.

Efforts by UNDP and Motorola Solutions seek to stimulate the diffusion of mobile initiatives for sustainable human development on a larger scale and contribute to consultations and dialogue now under way on the post-2015 development agenda.

With information and communications technologies playing an ever larger role in delivery of basic services such as education and health, improved connectivity has become a major development imperative.
Mobile technologies are now widely seen as critical to addressing emerging challenges such as climate change, food security, management of power and water, road safety, and the design and management of “smart cities.”
The UNDP is co-organiser of the WSIS+10 Review meeting with ITU, UNESCO, and UNCTAD.

ECOWAS Leaders Call for UN Mandate for Mali Mission

Sierra Leone's President Ernest Bai Koroma (L), Togo's President Faure Gnassingbe (C) and Burkina Faso's President Blaise Compaore at ECOWAS summit

REUTERS

West African leaders on Thursday called for a regional military operation against al Qaeda-linked rebels in north Mali to be transformed into a U.N. peacekeeping mission as quickly as possible to secure desperately needed funding.
France sent troops into its former colony last month to drive out Islamist fighters, claiming their seizure of Mali's north last year posed a threat to international security.

Paris hopes that from March it can start withdrawing its 4,000 troops but is awaiting the effective deployment of an African force (AFISMA), plagued by logistical and financing setbacks, reports Reuters.

Meeting in Cote d’Ivoire's capital Yamoussoukro, presidents from West Africa's regional bloc ECOWAS backed calls from France, the United States and Mali itself for the mission to receive a U.N. peacekeeping mandate.

"This shouldn't distract from ongoing operations on the ground," ECOWAS commission president Kadre Desire Ouedraogo told Reuters.

"It's simply an indication that, once peace has returned, we need the support of the United Nations system both for logistical and financial support."

Some two thirds of the 8,000 troops of the African-led mission (AFISMA) have deployed to Mali.

Many still lack the capacity to carry out combat operations and remain in southern Mali, leaving French forces and around 2,000 troops from Chad to secure northern towns and hunt down Islamist fighters hiding in desert and mountain redoubts.

After struggling for months to secure funding for its deployment, international donors pledged over $455 million for Mali at a meeting in Addis Ababa last month.

With the number of troops more than doubling since deployment plans were first hashed out last year, ECOWAS projects the cost of the mission at nearly $1 billion this year.

Transformation to a peacekeeping mission would ensure funding from the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations and facilitate the deployment of air assets essential for moving troops in Mali's vast northern desert.

However, a decision by the U.N. Security Council remains weeks, if not months, away. France's U.N. envoy said on Wednesday that the Security Council would ask Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to report by end-March on the possibility of creating a peacekeeping force.

Despite the rapid French advance which has seen the Islamists' former urban strongholds rapidly retaken, security on the ground in Mali remains tenuous, amid a mounting wave of guerrilla raids on towns and suicide attacks.

French and Chadian forces are currently hunting die-hard Islamists holed up in the Adrar des Ifoghas mountains. Algerian television reported on Thursday that French troops there had killed Abdelhamid Abou Zeid, a leading al Qaeda field commander.

C’Rica Pulls out of Hosting U17 Women's W’Cup

FIFA President, Sepp Blatter

AP

FIFA is looking for a new country to stage next year's Under-17 Women's World Cup.

The tournament had been planned for Costa Rica but construction delays mean the stadiums will not be ready in time. FIFA says it reached an agreement with the country's soccer federation and attributed the delays to ''a number of unforeseen circumstances.''

Costa Rica won hosting rights in March 2011, beating out Ghana, Turkey and Uzbekistan. The 16-nation tournament is likely to be scheduled in September 2014, reports The Associated Press.

FIFA says it will evaluate potential hosts before a decision by its executive committee on March 20-21 in Zurich.

Moses: FA Cup Triumph Would be 'Massive' for Chelsea

Chelsea’s Victor Moses

GOAL.COM

Chelsea attacker Victor Moses has suggested that winning the FA Cup for a second consecutive year would mark a successful ending to an otherwise disappointing season for the club.

The Blues are 19 points short of Manchester United at the top of the Premier League and have endured disappointing exits from both the Champions League and Capital One Cup this season. After scoring in a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough Wednesday, which sealed the Blues' place in the FA Cup quarterfinals, Moses underlined the importance of lifting the trophy, reports Goal.com.

"[The FA Cup] will be important for us, we've already lost a few competitions this season, so this one would be massive for the club," Moses told the club's official website.

The 21-year-old went on to praise his teammates for their performance during a potentially tricky away tie at the Riverside Stadium.

"It was a great win for us," Moses said. "Right from the start we wanted to get the game out of the way.

"They were a good side, they had a few chances as well, but we managed to capitalise on the ones we had and win the game. In the first half both sides had chances. We had our own but weren't able to take them and we knew in the second half that if the chances came we'd have to take them.

"It wasn't an easy game and we're delighted to come away with the victory.

"It was great work from Hazard and Oscar [to set-up Moses' goal]. They're both great players as we all know, it was a nice one-two to slip me in and it just needed a little touch from me to put the ball in the back of the net.

The West London outfit will meet Manchester United in the quarterfinals and resumes its challenge for a top-four finish against West Brom at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

"We've got an important game coming up on Saturday," Moses said. "We're looking forward to it but it's not going to be an easy game, so we need to make sure we get three points."

New Reforms Mandate Community Service for LASTMA, KAI

Governor Babatunde Fashola

Gboyega Akinsanmi

The Lagos State Government has explained the on-going reforms of its traffic management authority (LASTMA) and Kick against Indiscipline (KAI), saying the reforms are designed to improve the operatives’ sense of community services and achieve law enforcement with human face.

Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Transport Education, Dr. Mariam Masha, explained the rationale behind the reforms at the Agbowa relief camp, where about 200 LASTMA and KAI personnel, who are currently undergoing career evaluation programme, carried out their community services.

Speaking at the centre, the SSA said the on-going reform “is to enhance capacity of the traffic and environmental operatives with the central goal of making a life-time change in the state law enforcement as well as their agencies”.

She said the ideals of selfless service, humility, enterprise, interaction, trust, inter-agency relationships and other sound values “are being inculcated in these participants towards improved service delivery to the people of the state.

“We know what we want as a government and we want the right people in the right places. The officers were grouped and assigned specific areas with various traffic and environmental challenges that need to be addressed.

“They developed plans to address these and work with the community to effect positive change and promote law and order. She added that this project will form a significant part of their assessment,” Masha explained.

Some of the inmates at the centre commended the initiative, urging the personnel to carry out their duties with caution because not everybody they come in contact with is physically fit.
The inmates urged them to be humane in the discharge of their duties and expressed optimism that after this training, the efficiency and service delivery scale will shoot up while people friendly initiatives and voluntary compliance will also be on the increase.

The participants commended the totality of the training programme, especially the CSR visit to the relief centre, describing it as an indelible experience in the quest of serving the people of Lagos State.

They added that the initiative had really prepared their mind on how best to relate with the people while appreciating the challenges others might have in the day-to-day commuting in the state.

About 1,600 participants have undergone the training which involves aerobics, class-work, Community Service Relations visit to orphanage homes and hospitals while the field report aspect of the training had seen the participants visit Mile 12, Ojota, Ladipo, Apongbon, Agege and Obalende areas of the state and report presentation.

The officials cleaned up the relief camp, buildings, arranged beddings besides donating materials including foodstuffs for the use of the centre and the inmates. The visit by the 200 LASTMA and KAI personnel is an integral component of the career evaluation training programme designed to improve skills of the officers of the two agencies.

Pro League: LMC Insists on March 9 Kick-off Date

LMC Spokesman, Shehu Dikko

By Olawale Ajimotokan

The League Management Committee (LMC) has doused the concern of the House of Representatives Sports Committee by insisting that the Nigeria Professional Football League season will kick off on March 9.

The members of the interim body and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Thursday appeared before the committee to brief the committee on their plans for the league, in spite of the uncertainly trailing the activities of the pro body since it was inaugurated in December last year following the sack of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) headed by Victor Rumson Baribote.

Spokesman of the LMC, Shehu Dikko, had listed many hiccups which he said could likely militate against the operation of the league and by extension the scope of the LMC to meet its set objectives.

The league season was originally billed to start on February 16.

But despite the fears raised by the lawmakers, Dikko assured that the season would commence on the newly proposed date.

He said the LMC was already undermined by lack of money to start the league in addition to litigation slammed against it arising from unresolved commercial and sponsorship rights issues.

Baribote, who attended the hearing on the invitation of the House which appealed to him to discontinue with the court case he instituted, refused to recognize the LMC.

The LMC has proposed the league season to end on September 29 with mid-week matches incorporated to make up for the lost time.

The interim body insisted that for Nigeria to have a proper league, the clubs must have good administrative structures and standard training pitches. It also insisted on commensurate TV rights value for the commercial asset that will raise money for the clubs.

Dikko said that proposed leagues must get ideas from the English Premier League on the running of football and ensure that it is well branded to stimulate the interest of the fans.

He said that the British government which gave the EPL the take off lifeline of 200 million pounds is now reaping return on investments in form of tax generation.

But the chairman house sports committee Hon Godfrey Gaiya, expressed fears that there would be no progress in the league unless an elected body was put in place.

This position was reinforced by Hon Tobi Okechukwu, who described the current litigations against the LMC an existential treat to the league.

GSS Gwarimpa Grabs Double at Imansuagbon Cup

School boys playing football

By Olawale Ajimotokan

Government Secondary School Gwarimpa, Thurday savoured the limelight by claiming the boys and girls football titles at the 5th edition of the Ken Imansuagbon Cup for schools in the Federal Capital Territory.

In the final played at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja, the school earned the total prize money of N500, 000 for their feat which was facilitated by some luck during ensuing penalty kicks.

Earlier, GSS Gwarinpa had beaten GSS Lugbe 3-2 to claim the girls title, while their boys followed suit by overwhelming Total Child 5-4 (aet) in a cagey final of two halves.

GSS Gwarimpa, which lost in last year’s final to GSS Wuse, took the match in the scruff by scoring a late equalizer through Yema Ahmed to take the encounter into the shootout.

The school’s vice principal Mrs Folasade Olise said that school will use the bounty to improve its sports facilities after sharing out part of the largess to victories teams.

Several dignitaries including the first lady of Nasarawa State Mrs Maero Al Makura watches the final.

FG to Procure 4 New Tugboats for Port Operations

 Minister of Transport, Idris Umar

John Iwori

The Federal Government has concluded plans to procure four new tugboats this year.
The decision on the vessels was triggered by fears in some quarters that the paucity of river crafts has hindered smooth pilotage services in the nation’s seaports, particularly the busiest, Lagos.

THISDAY checks revealed that the inadequacy of the tugboats in the Lagos Pilotage District has impacted negatively on port operations as they were not enough to service the number of ocean going vessels calling at the Lagos Ports Complex (LPC), Apapa.

Already, the shipping community has raised the alarm on the inadequacy of the river craft in Lagos ports as frequent delay in its services have become the norm rather than the exception in recent times.
Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), General Manager, Public Affairs, Captain Iheanacho Ebubeogu, who confirmed the readiness of the federal government to include additional four tugboats, pointed out that the authority has begun a renewed to enhance what he called “efficient service delivery”.

He maintained that while the ports presently do not have enough tugboats, the subsisting contract with the LTT letters of which was in agreement that five boats could be made operational, while the sixth be kept on standby, could still go a long way in ensuring enviable service delivery, if followed to the letter.

Impeccable sources told THISDAY that a subsisting contract between NPA as the owners of the tug boats and the equipment managers, the Landfall Transport and Towage (LTT) stipulated that the equipment managers must only make at least, four of the six tugboats functional and available, on daily basis.

It was gathered the river crafts were not made available all year round, because aside from the fact that any of them could sometimes break down, as they have to go for regular preventive services, in line with manufacturers’ instructions.

They were also expected to equally undergo annual survey, during which time class experts inspects each boat, and demand that each boat must be re-equipped or re-fixed with certain new parts.

It was learnt that the idea behind meticulous maintenance of the equipment was to ensure that service delivery to foreign trading ships remained effective to ensure the ongoing soaring increase in cargo volume, since that was the most vibrant way of ensuring a continuous rise in the federal government’s revenue profile.

According to a source close to the authority, “it is gladdening to note that the NPA management has intensified efforts to procure more tugboats, but until that is done, we cannot utilise them”, noting that only those equipment being maintained by the LTT were presently in Lloyds class in the country.

To remain in Lloyds class also means that every two and a half years, each boat must also go for intermediate maintenance service, which simply means a dry-docking exercise which takes a period of three months to complete; while every five years, each boat must go for a more comprehensive Special Survey and another three months dry-docking exercise.

Continuing, the source who is familiar with the workings of the tug boats, said: “Each tugboat, in every five years, goes for six-month dry docking treatment, aside for the regular preventive and annual maintenance exercise. These were largely the reasons why the equipment managers could not be able to make the services of the six tugs available all year round”.

 Minister of Transport, Idris Umar

John Iwori

The Federal Government has concluded plans to procure four new tugboats this year.
The decision on the vessels was triggered by fears in some quarters that the paucity of river crafts has hindered smooth pilotage services in the nation’s seaports, particularly the busiest, Lagos.

THISDAY checks revealed that the inadequacy of the tugboats in the Lagos Pilotage District has impacted negatively on port operations as they were not enough to service the number of ocean going vessels calling at the Lagos Ports Complex (LPC), Apapa.

Already, the shipping community has raised the alarm on the inadequacy of the river craft in Lagos ports as frequent delay in its services have become the norm rather than the exception in recent times.
Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), General Manager, Public Affairs, Captain Iheanacho Ebubeogu, who confirmed the readiness of the federal government to include additional four tugboats, pointed out that the authority has begun a renewed to enhance what he called “efficient service delivery”.

He maintained that while the ports presently do not have enough tugboats, the subsisting contract with the LTT letters of which was in agreement that five boats could be made operational, while the sixth be kept on standby, could still go a long way in ensuring enviable service delivery, if followed to the letter.

Impeccable sources told THISDAY that a subsisting contract between NPA as the owners of the tug boats and the equipment managers, the Landfall Transport and Towage (LTT) stipulated that the equipment managers must only make at least, four of the six tugboats functional and available, on daily basis.

It was gathered the river crafts were not made available all year round, because aside from the fact that any of them could sometimes break down, as they have to go for regular preventive services, in line with manufacturers’ instructions.

They were also expected to equally undergo annual survey, during which time class experts inspects each boat, and demand that each boat must be re-equipped or re-fixed with certain new parts.

It was learnt that the idea behind meticulous maintenance of the equipment was to ensure that service delivery to foreign trading ships remained effective to ensure the ongoing soaring increase in cargo volume, since that was the most vibrant way of ensuring a continuous rise in the federal government’s revenue profile.

According to a source close to the authority, “it is gladdening to note that the NPA management has intensified efforts to procure more tugboats, but until that is done, we cannot utilise them”, noting that only those equipment being maintained by the LTT were presently in Lloyds class in the country.

To remain in Lloyds class also means that every two and a half years, each boat must also go for intermediate maintenance service, which simply means a dry-docking exercise which takes a period of three months to complete; while every five years, each boat must go for a more comprehensive Special Survey and another three months dry-docking exercise.

Continuing, the source who is familiar with the workings of the tug boats, said: “Each tugboat, in every five years, goes for six-month dry docking treatment, aside for the regular preventive and annual maintenance exercise. These were largely the reasons why the equipment managers could not be able to make the services of the six tugs available all year round”.

FG Plans 10,000 Capacity Multi-level Car Park at MMIA

Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos

Chinedu Eze

The Federal Government has concluded plans to build an automated multi-level car park at the international terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos. Construction is expected to start in the second quarter of this year and would be completed before the end of 2014.

The proposed multi-level car park will have computerised system that can document entry and exit of vehicles, notify users of absence of parking spaces, vacant spaces as well as floors where those spaces are located.

THISDAY also gathered that the computerised system would profile cars, scrutinise their nooks and crannies to ensure that they do not bring in prohibited substances like bombs and other dangerous materials.

The car park, it was also learnt would be linked to the terminal to protect users from rain and sunshine. Also, X-ray and other screening machines would be installed at the exit points to ensure thorough security checks.
General Manager, Corporate Communications, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Yakubu Dati, said that the car park, when completed, would ease vehicular movements and security checks.

Dati explained that traffic congestion at peak hours at the airport was due to the narrowness of the road, adding that the situation was usually worsened by vehicles that were stationed for hours at the airport terminal, waiting to pick Very Important Persons (VIPs).

“The car park will be automated. The plan is that it will create more spaces to expand network. The project will start second quarter of this year. So we want to sanitise the present car park by moving people out of the place, clear the thoroughfare and create alternative place for temporary car park”, the spokesperson said.

A top security official, who commented on security implications of the planned relocation of the car park, noted that although Aviation Security (AVSEC) officials and the Police monitor activities at the present car parks, relocating the car park would come with some challenges because of the alternative car park is likely to be smaller than the present one.

The implication of this, according to him, is that traffic congestion would be worsened because motorists would park their vehicles on the motorways and security operatives would find it difficult to control vehicular movements.

“We are going to see greater problem than what is presently observed, but we are going to ensure that vehicles no more park along the roads. We are going to deploy people to carry out surveillance and monitor vehicle movement. It is not going to be easy because the whole of the car park is going to be vacated in preparation for the project to take off,” the official told THISDAY.

If FAAN and AIC Nigeria Limited reach a compromise, the E Wing area may be designated as the temporary car park pending when the project would be completed.

Will Nicki Minaj Break Up With 'Idol' For New Album? Nicki tells MTV News about juggling her judge and musician jobs.

Nicki Minaj just might be one of the hardest working women in show business. The YMCMB rapper dropped her last album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded - The Re-Up just a few weeks before her debut as a judge on "American Idol," and she's just about ready to begin work on her next studio project.
First thing's first though, as Nicki still has plans to roll out more visuals from The Re-Up before she moves onto something new.
"It's possible but for right now I'm about to shoot another single off Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded - The Re-Up," she told MTV News, when asked if she'll start recording soon. "The song is called 'High School' with Wayne. And then [I'll] start working on that follow-up album.

Will Nicki Minaj Give Us New Music Anytime Soon?

"I'll be doing it here in L.A. while I'm shooting 'Idol,' " she added, confirming that she'll continue to juggle multiple projects, like we saw her doing last year in her three-part E! reality special.
Since Nicki hasn't clocked in any studio time just yet, it was impossible for her to explain exactly what fans might expect on her next album, but she did offer up this tidbit. "It's gonna be the direction of the new songs that I put out on the re-release," she said.
In the meantime, Nicki is dedicating her energy to picking the next big star on "American Idol," and she has high hopes that a female will come out on top this year.
"The stars have aligned and the girls that have come to audition for us have had just had strong voices like I don't know what," Minaj told MTV News. "We narrowed it down to some great girls. I think we did a great job picking amazing voices, so I am actually hoping a girl wins this year."
Give us your predictions about Nicki's forthcoming album below! Get wacky!

24-Year-Old Prostitute Docked For Bus Robbery

A 24-year-old woman, Joy Ekhoutorwmen, was on Wednesday charged before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly robbing a bus passenger of N30, 000.
The accused, who is currently facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and fraud, however, pleaded not guilty.
The police prosecutor, Cpl. Raphael Donny, told the court that Joy, whose address was unknown, committed the offences on Feb. 17 at Osborne road, Ikoyi, Lagos with others still at large.
He said: “The accused, who was once a prostitute, said she was introduced to another ‘business’ – robbing of bus passengers popularly called ‘one chance’.
“Joy and others now at large robbed one Matthew Ajasa of N30, 000 in the bus he boarded from Oshodi to Obalende.

 

“Ajasa was later dumped at Mushin,’’ he said.
Donny said the offences contravened Sections 312 and 409 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
The Magistrate, Mulikat Ali-Balogun, granted the accused bail in the sum of N20, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
She adjourned the case till April 24 for trial

Gunmen ambush taxi, abduct 5 passengers

A new dimension has been introduced into the flourishing business of kidnapping in Nigeria as five out of seven Lagos-bound passengers of an inter-state taxi were Wednesday abducted by gunmen on the Lagos-Benin Road.
The manner of the abduction in Edo State, was unprecedented.
The passengers who were travelling from Warri, Delta state to Lagos, in a Greener Line space wagon Siena bus, were waylaid along the Benin-Lagos road, by Ogbemudia farms by the kidnappers who barricaded the road with a truck.
It was learnt that moments later, gun-toting men suddenly emerged from the bush and took the passengers hostage after allowing the driver and one ot the passengers to go and give information of the incident.
One of the victims, a resident of Lagos, was said to be returning to Lagos after a naming ceremony of his new-born baby in Warri when he was abducted along with other passengers.
Father of the victim, a retired army colonel, who requested not to be named, told journalists in Benin that the kidnappers had contacted the family and demanded N3 million ransom to set his son free.
He pleaded with the kidnappers to release his son unhurt, saying that it was difficult for the family to raise the amount they demanded.
Edo State Police Command Acting Public Relations Officer, ASP Awhara Ejiroro, said he was yet to be briefed of the incident. 

Landlord’s Son Arrested For Raping And Robbing Tenant

The police in Lagos have docked 30-year old Ayo Adejare on a three-count charge of having carnal knowledge of a tenant in his father’s house, Mrs. Adeola Agbaje at gun point after allegedly stealing her gold necklace, two Nokia phones and N20,000.
According to the charge filed by police prosecutor, Inspector Rachael Williams before the Ikeja magistrate’s court 5 sitting at Abule Egba, Ayo committed the offence at about 2 a.m at 36, Ogundele Street, Olude bus stop, Ipaja on the outskirt of Lagos.
It was revealed that the building actually belongs to the defendant’s late grandfather and his father’s brother is one of the administrators of the property.
The victim said Ayo has noting to do with the building because he lives in another house and he was neither the caretaker nor the landlord of her apartment.
After he allegedly committed the crime, Ayo ran away but was arrested at his hideout by the police.
He was then arraigned on a three-count charge of felony, stealing and having carnal knowledge of the victim.
When the charge was read to him, Ayo pleaded not guilty.
The trial Chief Magistrate, Mr. T.A.  Elias asked the defendant why he went to the house, at such odd hour ( 2 a.m). He claimed there was a tenant he let out a room to but he met another person in the same room.
Elias admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N250,000 with two sureties in like sum, one of them must be a grade level 12 officer in government service while the other must be his blood relation.
The two sureties will swear to affidavit of means, present evidence of tax payment to Lagos state government and their addresses must be verified by the court and they will deposit N50,000.
As Ayo was unable to meet the bail conditions on time, he was remanded at Kirikiri prisons, Apapa, Lagos.
The case was adjourned till 25 March, 2013 for mention.

Two Arrested For Allegedly Poisoning Chinese

The police in Lagos have arrested two men for allegedly poisoning a 61-year-old Chinese businessman, Zhang Bofan, and later duping him of N2.5m.

The suspects, Ifeanyi Ndubuisi and Roland Okorie as well as an unidentified woman, allegedly poisoned their victim, who had just imported mobile phone accessories into Nigeria.
The incident occurred on January 23, 2013, a day before Zhang was billed to travel back to China.
Zhang alleged that he fell ill after eating a meal prepared by one of the suspects.
 Zhang, who lodged at Kelvinson International Hotel in Ojo area of the state, reportedly fell unconscious after eating the meal and was rushed to a private hospital where he was treated.
The Chinese national said despite his poor state of health, the suspects whom he had a prior business deal with, went to his warehouse at Agric, along Badagry Expressway and started off-loading phone accessories and handkerchiefs stocked in the building.
In the process however, they were accosted by Zhang’s cousin, Wenya Umeh, who raised the alarm and drew the attention of the police.
He said, “I was billed to travel back to China on January 25, 2013 for a business trip and to bring mobile phones and other phone accessories which I deal in but the illness really affected me and I could not go till now.”
According to the police, the suspects, who are planning to flee with the goods,  also stole a total sum of N2.5million from Zhang.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umaru Manko, said the suspects were arrested while planning to move the goods to another place.
However, the suspects said they were business partners with the company Zhang is representing in Nigeria and that the goods in question were sent to Nigeria by the company and they were meant to take the custody of the goods.
 Okorie said, “It is a cheap blackmail because we are dealing with the company that sent the goods directly. We called them when Zhang took ill and they instructed us to take custody of the goods, saying if the goods get missing, we would be held responsible. Also, I don’t know anything about money.
“When Zhang took ill, we took him to a hospital and the doctor said he had low sugar. Nobody told us anything about poison. We are surprised they are saying all this because we are into legitimate business with the company that sent Mr. Zhang and we sought their permission before we went into the warehouse to take the goods.”
Ndubuisi said, “When Wenya came to the warehouse while we were packing the stocks, she did not listen to us before making spurious allegations that we have come to steal the goods.
Immediately she saw us, she started shouting that we are thieves, that she knows Nigerians are bad people and that we wanted to kill her brother.”

Who killed Nasarawa Varsity students as Army, police deny?

Contrary to widespread reports, the Nigerian Army on Wednesday denied that its men were involved in the killing of four students of Nasarawa State University, Keffi last Wednesday.
The students were allegedly killed by soldiers who were called in to help quell protest over poor water supply to their hostels last Monday.

But Brigadier General Ibrahim Attahiru, the Director of Army Public Relations, told journalists in Abuja on Wednesday that though soldiers from the 177 Guards Battalion in Keffi were called in to assist the police in quelling the violent protests, they did not kill any student of the university.
“What these people are writing is not correct. Soldiers were not deployed and couldn’t have carried out the shooting. Our men were on patrol duty at Keffi,” said the Army PRO.
“The students, who were protesting, had blocked the road but soldiers did not have any altercation with them. There were the police and other security agencies, who were on the ground to handle the situation. There is also this information we have that the police even recovered some arms from the students who were protesting,” Brigadier Attahiru added.
The Police had earlier denied shooting the students.
Frank Mba, spokesperson for the Police said policemen only help to clear the portion of Abuja-Lokoja highway which was blocked by students during the protest.
“The policemen that went to the scene only cleared the expressway that was blocked by the students. Two students were killed and seven others were hospitalised for injuries sustained during the violent protest,” said Mba.
He added that: “Any question on the killing should be directed to the Army. They have their Public Relations unit; the police were not involved in the shooting.” 

FG Prepares N3 Billion Loan For Mechanised Farming

The Federal Government said on Wednesday in Abuja that it had set aside N3 billion for mechanised farming, to enable farmers to access modern implements.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, said this at the signing of an agreement between the Bank of Agriculture and the Nigeria Cassava Growers Association.
Adesina said the money would enable farmers to access loan through the bank for mechanised farming. He said government had received an order to export 3 million tonnes of cassava grit and dry chip to China.
“The last order we sent to the Chinese, we got a call that our cassava grit and chip was the best among those imported to China last year. So, in terms of quality, it beats other ones that are produced in other countries.’’
He said the Federal Government had also concluded plans to set up six cassava grit and chip processing centres across the country. He commended the association for being forthright in its dealings on matters relating to agriculture.
Managing Director of the bank, Dr Mohammed Santuraki, said the agreement was a result of a lengthy dialogue that had been going on between the bank and the association.
Represented by Executive Director, Wholesale Finance of the bank, Mr Waziri Ahmadu, Santuraki said both parties had agreed on modalities for the association to access the loan through mutual partnership.
“The bank has worked out appropriate loan processing procedures that will ensure smooth and timely packaging of loans, so long as applicants meet the bank’s requirement.’’
He noted that the interest rate pegged at 12 per cent would be at the discretion of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing for Agricultural Lending.
He assured that the bank was convinced of its capacity to meet the expectations of its partners because of the strength and spread inherent in its operations. He said the bank had been in partnership with the association since 2008 when it set aside N200 million for disbursement to its members to cultivate cassava.
Santuraki added that not long after that, the Flour Millers Association of Nigeria established the Cassava Endowment Fund and domiciled it with the bank.
“It was from this fund that a total of N121.8 million was disbursed to members of the association. Unfortunately the performance of the two loans has been less than satisfactory.
“We were, however, encouraged to give the association another chance not only because it promised to turn a new leaf, but because the executive endorsed to recover all liabilities soon to be booked.’’
He added that the association made an agreement to recover all old loans without an exception.
Mr Segun Adewumi, President of the association, said it would cultivate one million hectares of cassava in the 2013 planting season. He assured the bank that members of the association had resolved to re-pay the loan when due.

Court Frees 7 Suspects - UNIPORT 4

A Port Harcourt Magistrate Court in Rivers State today freed Seven suspects out of 18 charged with the murder of the four students of the University of Port Harcourt in Umuokiri, Aluu in October last year.

The Chief Magistrate, Emmanuel Woke said the seven persons including the only woman, Cynthia Chinda, were released based on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP.
The DPP told the Court that the seven were victims of circumstance arrested on mere suspicion by Police.
The DPP has however referred 11 other suspects including the Paramount ruler of Umuokiri, Aluu and a Police Sergeant to the Port Harcourt High Court to face charges of murder and negligence in the killing of four UNIPORT students.
The students were Ugonna Obuzor, 18; Lloyd Toku, 19, Tekena Elkanah, 20 and Chiadika Biringa,20.
However the prime suspect Coxson Lelebari Lucky,popularly known as Bright and five others are still at large.

How Fashola’s ‘Mega City’ Policy Renders Thousands Homeless in Badia, Lagos

“It’s a bad government. They are callous, useless government who has not got anything upstairs to offer the people,” the residents of Badia community say. At nightfall in Ijora-Badia, two-month-old Joy Kalu sleeps in the open.

When it’s time for the family to retire for the day, her mother, Ada, unfolds a worn out mattress, lays her baby on it, and lights up a mosquito coil. “Is it a crime to be poor? I managed to escape with my baby when they came on Saturday,” Ada, 26, said, cradling her baby behind her back.
Last Saturday morning, the Lagos State Environment and Sanitation Task Force forcefully evicted residents of Badia East Community in Lagos. By nightfall, what used to be homes for thousands of residents were reduced to a mass of wooden and concrete rubble. The occupants said that they were taken unawares. “They came around 7 a.m., gave us 20 minutes to pack out our things,” said John Momoh, 28.
“Some people were able to pack some of their things. When they started, they didn’t allow anybody to come in. I lost everything,” he added. Homeless and helpless Two bulldozers, accompanied by dozens of armed police officers, continued to rip through buildings into Sunday. Three “dissident residents” were imprisoned in a Black Maria, but later released. “Some area boys were trying to steal our properties and were fighting with them,” Mr. Momoh, who was among those arrested, added.
On most nights, Ada said that she stays awake so her baby could sleep. “I want to stop using (mosquito) coils. It’s giving her catarrh,” she said. For Bimbo Oshobe and her family – four children and a grandchild- there is nowhere to go. “What do you do when you don’t have any alternative? We’ve been in this area since 1973,” Mrs. Oshobe said. “My husband has gone to look for money from his people.” On Monday, hundreds of the residents marched to the state governor’s office to register their displeasure with the evictions.
After a four-hour wait, Bosun Jeje, the Commissioner for Housing, came out and merely stated that they form a “technical committee” to meet with the government. By Tuesday, the demolition squad had left, but the residents – most of them – remained, squatting near drainage channels and railroad tracks that pass through the community. Clothes, torn books, broken torchlight and plates littered the ground.
Albert Olorunwa who spearheaded the protest on Monday said that the demolition was “illegal and callous.” “We have nowhere to go. No food, no shelter. We have passed through a lot of agony,” Mr. Olorunwa, a former youth leader in the community, said. “It’s a bad government. They are callous, useless government who has not got anything upstairs to offer the people,” he said. The Social and Economic Rights Action Centre, SERAC, a nongovernmental organization that had been working with the community, said that the demolition is an illustration that “nothing has changed in Lagos since the days of military government.”
“The Lagos State Government still has no shame in carrying out mass forced evictions in flagrant contravention of international law and the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution,” the group said in a statement. A history of evictions The history of Badia in Apapa-Iganmu local council and their inhabitants are dotted with forced evictions. In 1929, the federal government acquired a huge chunk of the land to build a railway. By the early 1970s, the federal government called again, this time displacing occupants at the present location of the National Theatre, Iganmu.
However, the people were moved to Badia-East, a few kilometres away, where they had continued to live until Lagos State began its forced evictions. “Aside from periodic demolitions, the community has, since 2005, been engaged with the federal government in planning for possible in situ urban renewal,” said Felix Morka, SERAC’s Executive Director. On February 22, SERAC said that it held a meeting with the Lagos State Government in which Mr. Jeje “unequivocally denied” knowledge of any planned demolition. “By the close of the meeting, the commissioner committed to raising SERAC’s concerns about the need for a more consultative planning process at an inter-ministerial meeting the following week,” Mr. Morka said.
“Flying in the face of all such denials and promises, the massive demolition and forced eviction commenced unannounced less than twenty hours later,” he added. Speaking during the demolition, Bayo Suleiman, who led the Task Force, said that a slum existing in an area housing big industries such as the Nigeria Breweries is “not acceptable.” “There is no way we can achieve the mega city status with this kind of slum in this area,” Mr. Suleiman said.

Music producer Samklef involved in auto crash

The top music producer and singer was involved in a car crash in the early hours of today 28th February, around the Anthony area of Lagos. His car was badly damaged but thankfully neither he nor the other occupant of the car, his driver, was injured.

Exclusive photos: Shade Okoya gets Chieftancy Title

Shade Okoya, the youngest wife of billionaire business man, Chief Rasaq Okoya, added another feather to her numerouse titles last week tuesday19th february 2013 in Abeokuta during the 75th birthday of HRM Oba Adedapo Tejuoso.

Hip hop act Damino Damoche shot dead at LASU this afternoon

Rising hip hop act, Olaniyan Damilola, popular known as Damino Damoche, was shot dead this afternoon at Lagos State University Ojo gate by people suspected to be cultist.

Damoshe was shot twice in the head and hand after he finished writing a test at faculty of management science. He was a Banking and Finance student at LASU. He was popular for his song - obo to she. 

So sad! May his soul rest in peace...amen.

P-Square building another massive house in Parkview Estate Ikoyi

Peter, Paul and Jude Okoye have been building the new house at Parkview Estate since June last year. According to a source close to the twins, the new house, which will also be a twin duplex like their Omole Estate home, will be called Squareville2. Squareville2 is costing them more than their Omole Estate mansion.

I gathered exclusively that the Okoye boys bought the land in Parkview Estate for N200million and will spend another N200m to erect their dream home. They will be shuttling between their Omole home and this new one, which will be completed before the end of the year.

The Life Enriching Journey of Cadbury Bournvita Yummy Life Promo

Cadbury Nigeria Plc., the leading company in manufacturing food drinks in Nigeria embarked on a National Consumer Promotion Scheme 3 months ago for its flagship brand - Bournvita tagged “Cadbury Bournvita Yummy Life Promo” to excite an reward its loyal consumers across the country. It was aimed at delighting, rewarding and providing a superior life for the consumers of the brand in Nigeria.

The Yummy Life Promo which was hinged on the basis that everybody who participated in the promo is a winner fulfilled its promise of rewarding and enriching thousands of participants across the country.

Speaking regarding the Promo, the Corporate Affairs Manager, Cadbury West Africa, Mr. Kufre Ekanem expressed great satisfaction with the participation of the esteemed consumers of the brand in the promo which he said was evident in the several millions of entries received within the 11 weeks duration of the promotion.

Kufre revealed that Cadbury Bournvita Yummy Life Promo has produced a total of 11 Millionaires doling out N1 Million grand cash prize to eleven lucky winners in 11 weeks, eleven others won N250, 000.00 each, 65 consumers won N100, 000.00 each and a total of 300,000 consumers won N500 worth of airtime for the entire 11 weeks duration of the promo, taking the total worth of prize won to over N200, 000,000.

“With the Cadbury Bournvita Yummy Life Promo, Cadbury Nigeria Plc has once again reinstated its commitment to giving back to our loyal consumers by rewarding them and touching their lives more than ever before. So far, more than 300,000 consumers have won prizes in the promo”

Also speaking at the draw, the Brand Manager, Cadbury Bournvita, Mrs. Adebola Williams expressed the company’s sincere appreciation to the consumers for making Bournvita their preferred beverage drink and for participating in the Cadbury Bournvita Yummy Life Promo.

She further reinstated the company’s commitment to continue to reward and give back to its loyal consumers which she said will continue to build a lasting brand affinity and engender deeper connection between the brand and the consumers.

Commenting on the promotion, the Legal Officer, Lagos Lottery Board, Miss. Mayowa Okuyiga commended Cadbury Nigeria Plc for its high sense of integrity and transparency of process throughout the 11 weeks duration. She applauded the company’s sincerity in the way and manner in which the draw was conducted openly, free and fair, stating that “everybody was truly a winner in the promo”.

She further encourage consumers to continue purchasing either the 450g, 900g or refill packs of their favourite food and beverage drink and enjoy its offering of non-stop vitality.

PHOTO: Monster Creature Pulled Out Of River

 This eellike creature was caught in the Raritan River, somewhere in northern New Jersey. Lampreys (sometimes also called lamprey eels) are an order of jawless fish-like vertebrates, whose adults are characterized by a toothed, funnel-like sucking mouth, feeding parasitically on the blood of other fish. Against this backdrop, the eerie looking ellike creature above is suggested(not ascertained) to be a giant sea Lamprey, caught mid February in the Raritan River, somewhere in northern New Jersey, USA. Sea lampreys latch onto their prey, then secrete digestive fluids that slowly eat away and break down the host. They typically grow to 2.5 feet in length, but some sea Lampreys have been documented at sizes of up to 3 feet long. Sea lampreys are a native to the Atlantic Ocean and are found along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard and the coast of Europe, as well as in the Great Lakes, where it is considered an invasive species.